Training Seminar Austria
 
 From February 27 to 29, 2004 we had an Expo Training Seminar in Bogenhofen, Austria. About 30 Health Educators from the whole country came together to learn more about the concept of the Health Expo and experience first hand how it would work. Viriato Ferreira told some experiences from the work in Portugal and explained as well the ins and outs of organizing an Expo practically.

The exciting moment came then Sunday afternoon when we had scheduled a 2 hour Health Expo to see the potential of the program practically. We were very anxious to find out whether people would come to an Expo on our school campus, that is located out in the country, far away from the next town. Also would there be any prejudice in the community about it? Would there be any interest in a Western European country, where health tests are readily available and everybody has a good knowledge about general health issues? To our surprise the hall started to fill up ten minutes before opening, and we added another hour to the expo to server everybody that was coming. The success of the program encouraged many participants of the training seminar to organize an Expo in their local community as well.

Everybody was enthusiastically involved in making this Expo a success. One of the neighbors came over and told us afterwards: You know, you Adventists are doing a good thing, you are really caring for us. I guess you should do something like that more often.